Thursday 15 September

For immediate release

MAJOR EDINBURGH FESTIVAL HIT COMES TO

Tom Wainwright's extraordinary solo performance Pedestrian was one of the major critical and commercial hits of Edinburgh Fringe 2010. Now, this utterly unique and compelling one-man show comes to London for the very first time for a limited run at the Roundhouse from 26 - 29 October.

A breakneck-speed trip through the contemporary British high street to the gates of heaven and back, Pedestrian is packed full of finely-tuned storytelling, breathtaking animation and sudden bursts of Wylie, all the while with Wainwright being pursued by a giant fish. Charting his painful encounters en route with street fundraisers, flash-mobs, the office on their lunch-break, Tesco Metro, a young Palestinian boy, Barack Obama, Jesus Christ and the woman of his dreams, Wainwright has created a perversely comic razor- sharp satire about attempting to suppress ‘The Fear’; about apathy; about wanting to change the world. And doing nothing.

A Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Bristol co-commission, Pedestrian premiered in Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010 after early scratch performances at Tobacco Factory Bristol, Camden People's Theatre and , and sell-out preview performances at Bristol Old Vic Studio.

Pedestrian is written and performed by Tom Wainwright and made in collaboration with director Amelia Sears (National Theatre, , Royal Court), Video/Sound Artist Simon Wainwright (imitating the dog), Designer Simon Kenny (Holes) and Dramaturg Sarah Dickinson (Literary Manager of Theatre 503).

“Fresh, frank and compelling…” Time Out **** “Fast-moving, funny and goes for the jugular of modern life.” Scotsman **** “A highly original and challenging piece of theatre.” Whatsonstage ****

PRESS ENQUIRIES Ranjit Atwal T 020 7424 6776 E [email protected]

LISTINGS Venue: Studio Theatre, Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8EH Performances: Wed 26 - Sat 29 Oct, 8pm Tickets: £12.50 - £7.50 Booking: www.roundhouse.org.uk 0844 482 8008

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Roundhouse Each year the Roundhouse works with over 3,000 11-25s enabling them to realise their creative potential, and offers audiences of all ages new and extraordinary experiences in live music, circus, theatre and new media. www.roundhouse.org.uk

Cast and Creative Team Writer & Performer: Tom Wainwright Tom Wainwright is a prolific and highly acclaimed Bristol based writer and performer. He is currently on the prestigious Royal Court Young Writer’s programme. His Edinburgh Fringe 2010 hit solo show Pedestrian, commissioned by Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Bristol is currently on a national tour.

His other theatre work includes Mouth and A Grocery Shop, both developed through Bristol Old Vic’s Ferment initiative; Love in Idleness, The Grill Chef and sell-out Christmas sketch-show Jesus Christ it’s Christmas, all co-productions between Bristol Old Vic and Paper Aeroplane Theatre Company, as well as two previous solo shows One and Everything is Mailer Daemon. As an actor Wainwright has worked for Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory, Theatre Alibi, Scamp Theatre, Bodies in Flight, BBC1 and Radio 4 and he has performed with and managed the international street show The Big Heads. He has recently written an adaptation of Hansel and Gretal for The Egg Theatre in Bath.

Director: Amelia Sears Amelia was the recipient of the 2007/8 Bulldog Princep Directors' Bursary at the National Theatre Studio. Associate director credits include: Twelfth Night (Donmar West end); (Duchess Theatre); Four Quartets and One Evening (Lincoln Centre NYC). Staff director/Assistant Director: Al CaricoD'Amore (Salzburg Opera Festival, Katie Mitchell); Statement of Regret; the Year of Magical Thinking; Some Trace of Her (all National Theatre); Bliss ()

Directing includes: Pedestrian (Bristol Old Vic, Underbelly Edinburgh); The Last 5 Years (Duchess Theatre); Love in Idleness (Bristol Old Vic Studio).

Film & Projection: Simon Wainwright Simon Wainwright is a founding member of imitating the dog theatre company. He is a specialist in digital media. He is also a member of UK band Hope&Social and a visual artist.